CHANGES IN AMERICAN POLICY TOWARDS VIETNAM (Effect on Singapore's foreign policy of non-involvement)

Mr Low Yong Nguan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour, in view of changes in the American policy towards Vietnam and the recent visit of the Vice-President of the United States to the region, if he will elucidate whether there are any military implications which will radically alter the Republic's foreign policy of non-involvement.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Inche A. Rahim Ishak) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, as I cannot predict what changes will, in fact, take place in American policy towards Vietnam during the coming months and years, I cannot foresee what military and other implications it would have for Singapore's foreign policy. However, whatever new circumstances we might find ourselves in as a result of American policy changes or, for that matter, of any other country, our basic policy of ensuring Singapore's security and political integrity remains unaltered. Precisely how we further this basic policy will depend on circumstances then prevailing.

May I point out that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stated that we are non-involved only in regard to conflicts which do not affect our national interests or our conception of what is right and wrong. Where these are directly or indirectly threatened, then we are not non-involved.